Withers KhattarWong LLP

Litigation and Arbitration

Partner and Regional Division Leader for Dispute Resolution (Asia)

Chenthil is a Regional Division Leader for Dispute Resolution (Asia) and a partner in the litigation and international arbitration team.

Chenthil handles complex commercial disputes and urgent crisis management matters across a wide range of industries, bringing to bear a blend of acumen, strategic insight and practical wisdom in solving problems. He is regularly called upon by business owners and private clients to advise and act in disputes relating to investments and joint ventures, minority oppression and company matters, contract claims, defamation, and employment matters. He also has a special interest in trust, estate and inheritance disputes and related matters.

Chenthil acts as counsel in white collar criminal matters and professional conduct matters, advising on matters relating to breaches of professional duties, corruption, criminal breach of trust, customs breaches, fraud, gaming, insider trading, market misconduct, regulatory compliance and money-laundering. He has also coordinated investigations and advised on internal disciplinary proceedings.

Chenthil has appeared as lead counsel in both the Singapore Court of Appeal and High Court, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. Apart from his commercial law practice, Chenthil is an accredited Principal Mediator of the Singapore Mediation Centre and volunteers with the Law Society of Singapore's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) and the Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences (LASCO). Outside practice, Chenthil is chairperson of the Criminal Practice Committee of the Law Society of Singapore. He is a senior Advocacy trainer with the Law Society, and has trained advocates both locally and overseas.

Chenthil's experience include the following: International arbitration

Acting for an international conglomerate in the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal of Singapore, resisting an attempt to set aside an international arbitration award involving claims of over RM$100m. Acting in a Singapore-seated arbitration concerning Vietnam based assets and involving allegations of public policy as well as a consideration of the jurisprudence in relation to liquidated damages.

Contractual disputes

Acting for high net worth clients from China in bringing claims against a Swiss bank in Singapore for breach of contract and unauthorized transactions. Acted for Sunpower Semiconductor Limited and its sole shareholder and director, in a joint venture dispute lodged by Powercom Co Ltd, a listed company in Taiwan, against our clients and another joint venture party Yuraku Pte Ltd. The dispute arose out of a rights issue that diluted Powercom's shares in the JV. Acted for a client in a High Court suit claim of approximately SG$4m, pursuant to an oral agreement for the sale of shares, involving issues such as the enforceability of oral contracts, implied terms in an oral contract, and the evidential thresholds required to prove the existence of an oral contract where the contracting party is deceased. Acted for clients in a High Court suit claim of approximately SG$5m, involving minority oppression, breaches of directors’ duties and allegations of competing with the business of the company, including a novel point on the determination of how a buyout clause in a shareholders’ agreement will operate if some of the parties do not allege that the breach has occurred.

Fraud

Acting for a corporate finance firm against a multinational company in a multi-million dollar claim in misrepresentation, fraud, conspiracy and breach of contract.  Acting for a private equity fund in relation to its investment in a fishing business in Indonesia, which had been fraudulently procured. This matter involved instructing foreign lawyers and private investigators to ascertain the full extent of the fraud. Acting as defence counsel for various parties who were being investigated for or charged with offences relating to inter alia market manipulation, corruption, forgery, tax evasion, breaches of immigration controls and breaches of export controls.

Investigations

Representing the interim judicial managers, judicial managers and the current liquidators (from KPMG) in all aspects of the attempted restructuring and subsequent insolvency of ZenRock.

Professional negligence

Acting for a listed healthcare company on internal disciplinary proceedings and a complaint lodged with the Singapore Medical Council against one of its employees.

Shipping

Acting for an Indonesian shipping conglomerate in the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal of Singapore, in respect of claims exceeding US$200m.

English

Law Society of Singapore - Member - Chairman, Criminal Practice Committee - Member, Court Practice Chairperson's Committee - Senior Mediator, Law Society Mediation Scheme Singapore Academy of Law - Member - Member, Professional Affairs Committee, Professional Development Working Group Singapore Mediation Centre - Principal Mediator Singapore International Mediation Centre - Specialist Mediator

University of Nottingham, LLB

National University of Singapore, Graduate Diploma in Singapore Law